In two weeks, the G-16s (our group/year for Georgia), will be swearing in as official volunteers. The thought of “graduating” from our Pre-Service Training (PST) feels oddly familiar. Training will be over and we will be finally allowed to let our wings soar in the “real world.” Of course, anyone who graduated from high school or college has experienced “graduation jitters.” Except, here is how it will be different for me this time around. When I “graduate,” I will be upgraded from an out-house to an indoor toilet (at work and at home). I will walk on paved roads. And I will have Wi-Fi.
I’m just kidding, this isn’t obviously the important things in life for me…if it was, I would have never signed up for the Peace Corps. Although, I can’t complain that these luxuries are very much welcomed.
The real reason it will be different is because I won’t be taking Georgian lessons every day. I won’t be surrounded by many Americans. I will have to get to know a new host family and establish norms all over again. I will also have to work in a Georgian workplace, completely unaware of the professional norms in this country.
And yet, I’m so excited. The last few days we actually went to our Permanent Sites after finding out what they were last Friday. I couldn’t be any happier. I will be working at World Vision! Who wouldn’t be excited to be working at such a world-class organization?! I will also be at one of the best cities in Georgia (my biased opinion of course). The city that we will serve in has so much history- it is actually older than the capital, Tbilisi.
Watch out world, in 14 days, you will be getting 57 full-fledged new Peace Corps Adults whether we are ready or not.